title: Evaluating an implementation strategy in cardiovascular prevention to improve prescribing of statins in Germany: an intention to treat analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prescription of statins is an evidence-based treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with elevated cardiovascular risk or with a cardiovascular disorder (CVD). In spite of this, many of these patients do not receive statins.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the impact of a brief educational intervention in cardiovascular prevention in primary care physicians' prescribing behaviour regarding statins beyond their participation in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). For this, prescribing data of all patients > 35 years who were counselled before and after the study period were analysed (each n > 75,000). Outcome measure was prescription of Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (statins) corresponding to patients' overall risk for CVD. Appropriateness of prescribing was examined according to different risk groups based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC codes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no consistent association between group allocation and statin prescription controlling for risk status in each risk group before and after study participation. However, we found a change to more significant drug configurations predicting the prescription of statins in the intervention group, which can be regarded as a small intervention effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that an active implementation of a brief evidence-based educational intervention does not lead to prescription modifications in everyday practice. Physician's prescribing behaviour is affected by an established health care system, which is not easy to change.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN71348772.
authors.forename: Heidemarie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 4, Marburg, 35043, Germany. oliver.hirsch@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaufmann-Kolle
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krones
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sönnichsen
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Donner-Banzhoff
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005858:Germany; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors